Signaling system



1.1). R. PALMER.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4, 191a.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921 o-Nrrao stares PATENT @FFHCEQ JoEL c. R. PALMER, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR TO wnsrnmv'nmc- COMPANY, mconro aarnn, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW TRIO YORK.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Patented Aug, a, tear.

Application filed August 14, 1918. Serial No. 249,780.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that T, JOEL C. R. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of VVestchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a ful clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to signaling systems and particularly to the apparatus emratus of the class herein referred to where-' by selective combinations of electrical impulses may be sent over a llne c1rcu1t in rapid successlon to effect the printing or recording of characters at a receiving station; the sending of such combinations being controlled automatically by the actuation of transmitting mechanism at the sending station.

For the accomplishment of the above objects, a group of transmitter controlled magnets is provided for selectively operating a plurality of line circuit closing devices and for controlling the operation of a current impulse distributor. ter controlled magnets is provided with an armature which when attracted is locked in its actuated position by a locking member, which member also permits the closure of a line circuit closing device. Thecurrent impulse distributer connects one side of the line circuit closing devices sequentially to one side of the loop or line circuit and also controls the operation of a restoring mechanism which restores the locking members to normal and enables a second set of impulses to be set up before the first set of impulses has been distributed to the line Each of the transmit-.

units of current and no-current as is well known in Morse operation-although other signaling units may be employed such as units of positive and negative current, etc., without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the invention is illustrated in combination with a so-called start-stop distributor system, that is, a system wherein the current impulse distributors at each station are released and stopped once per revolution or cycle of operation, thereby restoring all of the distributers to synchronism once during each revolution without employing complirated and expensive synchronizing .apparatus. The apparatus disclosed in the accompanying drawing is that normally used at a single station although any station may be equipped with either the sending or receiving apparatus only. The system is adapted for intercommunicating and any number of stations may be connected in the from a sending station or any two stations may send and. receive simultaneously by providing the usual duplex balance.

In the accompanying drawing is a transmitter 10 comprising a plurality of current controlling contacts 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 and a common transmitter contact 16 which is closed whenever a character combination is set up, or whenever one or more of the contacts 11 to 15 inclusive is actuated' The transmitter 10 may comprise a keyboard transmitter or automatic transmitter, both of which are Well known in the art. Associated with the transmitter contacts and controlled thereby is a set of magnets 21, 22,

- of the crank levers control switches 51, 52,

53, 54 and 55 respectively. The arrangement is such that when any one of the magnets 21 to 25 inclusive is actuated to attract its respective armature, the armature in moving forward will withdraw its respective extension from under the corresponding crank lever, thereby permitting the respective crank lever to rotate in a clockwise direction so that the forward extension I thereof rests against the end of the rearward extension of the relay armature, thereby holding or looking the armature in its attracted position. The crank levers in addition to locking the relay armatures in their actuated positions also permit the closures of the respective switch contacts 51 to 55 inclusive.

The relay armatures 31 to 35 inclusive are mounted on a supporting rod 37 On the rod 37 is also mounted. a pair of arms 39 and 40 which carry a bail or bar 38. The arm 40 is provided with a rearward extension 46 and is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction whenever one of the armatures 31 to 35 inclusive is attracted and engages the bail 38, thereby opening switch contacts 47 and closin switch contacts 48. The circuits controlled y these contacts will be referred to presently.

When the relay armatures 31 to 35 inclusive, are attracted the crank arms 41 to 45 respectively are permitted to rotate until the forward extensions thereof engage a rod or bail 49 which is rigidly connected to the supporting rod 36. The supporting rod36 also carries an armature'26 ri idly secured thereto and when attracted iy restoring magnet 50, the bail 49 is moved in a counterclockwise direction to restore the actuated crank levers 41 to 45, inclusive, tonormal.

The distributer 60 is of the usual flat face ments of the outer ring with those of the inner ring. The distributer arm 56 may be frictionally mounted on a constantly rotating shaft 58 so that when the brush arm is released by the withdrawal of holding pawl 59, the brush arm will be rotated until reengaged'by the respective holding pawl.

At the right-hand side of the drawing is a second distributer 160 which is similar to distributer 60 and may be employed as a receiving distributer or may be used at the sending station for distributing the effects of the transmitted impulses to a home recording mechanism. At the lower righthand corner of the drawing is shown a plurality of selecting magnets with devices for locking the armatures in their actuated positions and for closing a plurality of circuit controlling contacts, which is similar to the relay and locking mechanism hereinbefore referred to. The switch contacts controlled by, the relays may control circuits of selecting magnets or any suitable recording mechanism. v

A better understanding of the system can perhaps be obtained by describing the various operations incident to selecting and transmitting agiven character combination. Let it be assumed that the character E is to be transmitted and let it be further assumed that the five signaling units representing the character E consist of current, no-

closed, while the remaining transmitter contacts will not be actuated. The closure of contacts 11 and 16 completes an energizing circuit from grounded battery 27, through the winding of relay 21, contact 11, contact 47, contact 28 of restoring magnet 50, winding of transmitter magnet 29 and contact 16 to ground. The establishment of the circuit just traced causes the energization of relay 21 and magnet 29. Magnet- 29 attracts its armatures 18 and 19 and establishes its own holding circuit from grounded battery 20, armature 19 and contact thereof, magnet 29, contact 16 to ground, which circuit will be maintained as long as the common transmitter contact 16 is closed. The

attraction of the armature 18 does not effect the actuation of any'apparatus at this time because the circuit is open at switch contacts 30 of the restoring magnet 50.. The 'enerrotate, thereby closing switch contacts 51 and locking the armature 31 in its attracted position. Since the selected relay has now been energized and its armature locked in its attracted position the energizing circuits of the selecting relay 21 may be' broken. This is accomplished when the armature 31 in moving forward engages the bail 38 and rocks the crank lever 40, 46 to break contacts 47. The lever 40, 46 in addition to oTplening contacts 47 also closes contacts 48.

e closure of switch contacts 48 establishes an energizing circuit for start relay 68 from grounded battery 69, switch contacts 48, energizing windin of relay 68, holding pawl 59, arm 56, brush 57, segment to ground. Relay 68 upon being energized attracts its armatures 71 and 72. The attraction of armature 71 opens the loop or line circuit L and the attraction of armature 72 establishes a holding circuit for relay 68 and an energizing circuit for start magnet 73, which circuits may be traced from grounded battery 74, armature of relay 76 and back contactthereof, contact and armature 72 of relay 68 to a dividing point 77, from thence current flows through the holding winding of relay 68 to ground and through the energizing winding of relay 73, segment 67 brush 57 and segment 70 to ground.

It will be seen from the drawings that the line circuit is arranged to be closed whenever the distributers are at rest so that in case an operator at any station should desire to communicate with an operator at any other station. the line circuit would be complete through all the stations and render the transmission of messages possible at all times. I

At each of the receiving stations is provided a relay similar to relay 80. The armatures 81 of relays control the circuits for the release magnets at the receiving stations and also control the distribution of line current impulses to the selecting magnets at the receiving stations. It will be noted that by reason of the line clrcuit being closed, the.

relays 80 will remain energized and consequently their corresponding armatures 81 will remain in engagement with their front contacts when the distributers are at rest. However, the instant the line circuit is opened the line relays will be deenergized to permit their respective armatures to engage their respective back contacts, in which case a circuit is completed through each of the start relays 168 from grounded battery 169, segment 170, brush 157 distributer arm 156, holding pawl 159, winding of relay 168, switch 116, back contact and armature 81 to ground. Relay 168 thereupon attracts its armatures 171 and 172. The attraction of armature 171 establishes an energizing circuit for receiving start magnet 173 which releases the distributer-arm 156 by the withdrawal of the holding pawl 159. Thus, it will be seen that the start magnets at the receiving stations are energized so that the distribut er arms at both sending and receiving stations are released at about the same instant and if the speeds of rotation of the respective distributer arms are approximately equal, the sending and receiving brushes will pass over corresponding segments at the same instant and thereby dis tribute the effects of the line current impulses to the proper receiving magnets.

Magnet 73 upon being energized withfall back and close the line circuit.

draws the holding pawl 59 from engagement with the brush arm 56, thereby permitting the brush arm to make a complete revolution. It will be observed that the holding winding ofrelay 68 will be maintained until the clear-out relay 76 is energized so that armature 71 of relay 68 will be held in its attracted position and not interfere with the loop or line circuit while signaling impulses are being transmitted through the distributer segments. The instant the brush 57 passes off segment 67 and engages segment 61, the line circuit will be established from line relay 80, switch contacts 51, segment 61, brush 57, segment 78 to the other side of the line circuit L. The closure of the line circuit, as above traced, will cause the line relays at the receiving stations to attract their respective armatures, and since the receiving distributer brush 157 is now passing over receiving segment 161, an energizing circuit will be established through selecting relay 121 from grounded battery 127, winding of relay 121, receiving segment 161, brush 157, segment 178, front contact and armature 81. to ground. The energization of selecting relay 121 will cause it to attract its armature and close switch contacts 151, which contacts may control the circuit through any suitable receiving apparatus.

Since switch contacts 52,53, 54 and 55 at the transmitting station have not been closed for transmitting the character E. the line circuit will consequently be open while the distributor brush 57 )asses over segments 62', 63, 64 and 65. onsequently the line relays at the receiving station will remain deenergized and the circuits through the selectingmagnets 122, 123. 124 and 125 will likewise remain open. The instant the distributer brush 57 engages segment 66 a circuit is completed through the clear-out relay 76 from grounded battery 74, winding of relay 76, segment 66, brush 57 and segment 70 to ground. Relay 76 upon attracting armature 75 opens the holding circuit of relay 68, thereby permitting armature 71 to Armature 75 upon engaging its front contact completes a circuit from, grounded battery 74,

.armature 75 and front contact thereof,

through restoring magnet 50 to ground. Magnet 50 upon being energized attracts its armature 26 and by rocking the bail 49 restores all of the switch controlling and armature locking'members 41 to 45 inclusive, to normal. Restoring magnet 50 is provided with two windings, the purpose of which will presently appear. As soon as the distributer brush arm 56 after being released passes off of segment 67, the holding pawl 59 of magnet 73 returns to its normal position 111 readlness to engage the brush arm at the end of 1ts revolution. Therefore, as soon as brush arm 56 has completed one cycle, it is stopped and held from further rotation until a new character combination is set up.

Restoring magnet 50 is provided with two windings and controls two sets of contacts which perform two distinct functions. To

tracted position, a holding circuit will be established for restoring magnet 50 from grounded battery 20, armature 18 and front contact thereof, holding winding of magnet 50, contacts 30 toground. Thus magnet 50 will remain energizedv and by holding the switch controlling members 41 to 45 inclusive, in their restored position, switch con tacts 51 to 55 inclusive, will likewise be held open. By means of this arrangement, the unintentional repetition of characters is prevented. On the other hand, if after a first key has been depressed and released, a second key is depressed before the previously selected group of impulses has been transmitted, the first group of impulses will not be interfered with because the energizing circuits of the selecting relays can not be reestablished until the selected relay armatures return. to normal position and contacts 47 are permitted to close. Also, magnet 50 must be deenergized to close contacts 28 before the selecting relays can be again energized. By means of this arrangement, if a keyboard transmitter is employed, the depression of two keys in rapid succession does not cause loss or mutilation of any of the impulses of either character combination, but allows considerable freedom in the operation of the keys tothe extent that the operator may not necessarily allOW the same interval of time to elapse between the depression of keys; the essential requirement being that any key after the first, has been depressed, must be held in its depressed position until the distributer brush 57 has engaged the distributer segment 67.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing telegraph system wherein the characters are represented by permutations of impulses, a line circuit, a plurality of circuit-closing devices, selecting magnets, armatures therefor, members slidable on said armatures and controlled bythe movement thereof for controlling the circuitclosing devices, anda distributer for connecting the circuit-closing devices to the line circuit.

2. In a signaling system, the combination with a line circuit, transmitting mechanism comprising a plurality of selectively operter, a transmitting mechanism comprising a plurality of selectively operable switches, a plurality of selecting magnets controlled by said switches, armatures for said magnets, mechanical means for holding said arma tures in their actuated positions, switching means responsive to the movement of said armatures, and means controlled by the actuation of said switching means for releasing the current impulse distributer.

4. Ina signaling system, the combination with a current impulse distributer, a plu rality of selecting magnets, energizing circuits for said magnets, means for selectively closing said circuits, armatures responsive to the energization'of said magnets, devices for holding said armatures when actuated, a rocker arm responsive to the movement of said armatures, means controlled by the movement of said rocker arm for opening the energizing circuits of said magnets and for releasing the current impulse distributer, and means controlled by said current impulse distributer for restoring said holding devices to normal.

5. In a printing telegraph system, wherein the characters are represented by permutations of impulses, the combination of a current impulse distributer, selectively operable means for determining the character to be transmitted, selecting magnets responsive to said means, armatures therefor, devices responsive to the movement of said armatures, switches responsive to the movement of said devices, means operated by the energization of any one of said relays for releasing the current impulse distributer 'to connect the switches sequentially to the line, and a re-- storing magnet controlled by said distributer and adapted to be operated to restore said devices after the permutation impulses have been transmitted.

6. In a signaling system, a normally closed line circuit, a current impulse distributer associated therewith, transmitting mechanism comprising a plurality of -selectively operable switches, a plurality of selecting magnets, energizing circuits for said magnets under the, control of said switches, armatures for said magnets, mechanical devices for locking said armatures when actuated, a start relay, a circuit therefor arranged to be closed upon the energization of one of said magnets, and means controlled by the energization of said relay for' opening the line circuit and for releasing the current impulse distributer.

quentially to the line,

7. In a printing telegraph system wherein the characters are represented by permutations of impulses, a line circuit, a current impulse distributor, character determining means comprising a plurality of selectively operable switches, selecting magnets controlled by the actuation of said switches for setting up a character combination, armatures for said magnets, mechanism for holding said armatures when actuated, and means whereby a second set of character impulses may be determined while the previously selected group of impulses is being transmitted without loss or mutilation of the line impulses of either group.

8. In a printing telegraph system wherein the characters are represented by permutations of impulses, a line circuit, a current impulse distributer associated with the line circuit, a transmitter mechanism comprising a plurality of selectively operable switches, a plurality of magnets selectively responsive to the actuation of said switches, armatures for said magnets, a plurality of line circuitclosing devices, means responsive to the movement of said armatures for closing said line circuit-closing devices, means controlled by the actuation of said magnets for connecting the line circuit-closing devices seand means controlled by said magnets whereby their energizing circuits remain open until the previously selected group of impulses has been transmitted.

9. In combination, a plurality of selectively operable magnets, an armature individual to each of said magnets, a switching device common to said armatures and operable by any one of them, a plurality of switches, and mechanlsm individual to each of said armatures and movable upon the attraction thereof to operate one of said switches and to hold said switching device in operated position.

10. In combination, a plurality of selectively operable magnets, an armature individual to each of said magnets, a switching device common to said armatures and operable vby any one of them, a plurality of switches, mechanism individual to each of said armatures and movable upon the attraction thereof to operate one of said switches and to hold said switchin device in operated position, and means or restoring said mechanisms.

11. In combination, a plurality of selectively operable magnets, an armature individual to each of said magnets, a switching device common to said armatures and operable by any one of them, a plurality of switches, mechanism individual to each of said armatures and movable upon the attraction thereof to operate one of said switches vice, means common and to hold said switching device in operated position, and a common restoring device for said mechanisms.

12. Ina signalin system, in combination with a sending distri buter, a set of selectively operable switches, a corresponding set of magnets controlled thereby, armatures for said magnets, a switching device and circuit connection controlled thereby to initiate the operation of said distributer, means common to said armatures and movable by any one thereof to actuate said switching device, a set of switches connected to said distributor and corresponding in number to said magnets, and mechanisms released by the operation of selected ones of said armatures to actuate corresponding ones of said switches in accordance with the'signal to be sent and to hold said switching device operated.

13. In a signaling system, in combination with a. sending distributor, a set of selectively operable switches, a corresponding set of magnets controlled thereby, armatures for said magnets, a switching device and circuit connection controlled thereby to initi: ate the operation of said distributor, means common to said armatures and movable by any one thereof to actuate said switching device, a set of switches connected to said distributer and corresponding in number to said magnets, mechanisms released by the operation of selected ones of said armatures to actuate corresponding ones of said switches in accordance with the signal to be sent and to hold said switching device operated, and means controlled by said distributer and operating after the signal has been sent to restore said mechanisms.

14. In a signaling system, in combination with a sending distributer, a set of selectively operable switches, a second set of switches connected to said distributer, means individual to each of said switches for holding it in an unoperated position, electromagnetic means under the control of said selectively operable switches for releasing predetermined ones of said holding means and thereby operating corresponding ones of said second set of switches in accordance with the signal to be sent, a switching dcto said electromagnetic means and operable thereby to actuate said switching device and adapted'to be held in operated position by said released holding means, and circuit connections controlled by said switching device to initiate the operation of said dlstributer.

15. In a printing telegraph system wherein the characters are represented by permutation's of impulses, a line circuit, a plurality of circuit-closing devi'ces, selecting magnets, armatures therefor, members controlled by the movement of said armatures for controlling the circuit-closing devices and formechanically locking the armatures in their "actuated positions, and a distributer for the circuit-closing devices to the 5 combination of a current impulse distributer,

a selecting mechanism comprising a plurality of selecting magnets, armatures' therefor, mechanism normally in engagement with said armatures and'actuated thereby lock said armatures in their actuated positlons, and means responslve to the actuation of said armatures for initiating the opv eration of the current impulse distributer.

In wltness whereof I hereunto subscribe JOEL 0. R. PALMER.

my name this 5th day of August, A. D. 15 

